The War in Iran and Albania in a Fragmenting International Order
by Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, February 28 2026 – At the very moment when diplomacy appeared to be moving toward a fragile agreement, the United States and Israel launched a unilateral strike against Iran, shifting the region from tense negotiations to open confrontation. The targets included strategic infrastructure and …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 2, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Balkan Govts Scramble to Safeguard Citizens in Middle East Conflict Zone
Some Balkan countries are planning to evacuate stranded citizens from the conflict zone around Iran, others have already managed to fly people out – although some have only issued security warnings. Original post Here
Albanians Pay Price of Legal Row over Wastewater Treatment Project
For decades, sewage from the Albanian capital has been discharged untreated into the waters of the Lana River in Tirana. Original post Here
Albania Aligns With U.S. and Israel on Iran
Albania also voices solidarity with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf partners after Iran’s missile attacks. Tirana Times, March 1, 2026 – Albania threw its support behind U.S. strikes on Iran in the opening hours of the latest Middle East escalation, with Prime Minister Edi Rama declaring that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary …
Albania Backs U.S. Strikes on Iran
Kosovo and North Macedonia join support for Washington. Tirana Times, February 28, 2026 – Albania threw its support behind U.S. strikes on Iran on Friday, with Prime Minister Edi Rama declaring that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should be officially designated a terrorist organization and saying Tirana would move to …
Albanian Prime Minister Under Pressure Dismisses Deputy Accused of Corruption
After months of defending his deputy and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, who faces allegations of manipulating public tenders, Edi Rama finally dismissed her on Thursday night. Original post Here
Week in Review: Trades and Betrayals
From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here
PM Rama’s Big Shake-Up as SPAK Closes In
Tirana Times, February 26, 2026 – Prime Minister Edi Rama carried out one of the deepest cabinet reshuffles of his fourth term, replacing officials across several of the most powerful ministries in a move that comes as his government faces rising scrutiny, swelling scandal pressure and an intensifying anti-corruption push …
Letter from Washington: Buying Friends and Finding Common Foes
As Milorad Dodik comes in from the cold, Albanians impress on Trump that they have an enemy in common. Original post Here
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha reacted to the protest of Albanian students in North Macedonia. They demand the right to take exams in Albanian. In a post on X, Hoxha said the use of the mother tongue is a fundamental right. The Constitution and the Law on …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha spoke about the Fourth Diaspora Summit in a TV interview. This year’s summit will focus on economic, social, and cultural issues. It will include discussions on integrating the diaspora into Albania’s development. Hoxha said the three previous summits strengthened ties with the …
After week 30 of the Abissnet Superiore, national youth team coaches picked the best lineup and coach of the week. They used a 1-4-4-2 formation. Goalkeeper: Romeo Harizaj (Vora) kept a clean sheet against Teuta. Defenders: Faton Neziri (Dinamo City), Eljon Sota (Egnatia), Elmando Gjini (Vllaznia), Luciano Vera (Tirana). Midfielders: …
Prime Minister Edi Rama released a new book. It is called At the Moon’s Table. The book collects his speeches from iftar dinners. Moreover, Rama said he wrote it out of love for the Albanian language. “I love my language. Therefore, I write. Printing it in a book preserves it,” …
The Directorate for the Investigation of Cyber Crimes at the State Police has raised the alarm this Monday about the circulation of fraudulent SMS messages, which falsely appear as notifications from postal services regarding package deliveries. According to the official announcement, these messages contain suspicious links and urge citizens to …
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, after a two-hour meeting with the leader of Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku, confirmed that there was nothing new from the meeting. However, Kurti remains optimistic that through meetings they can reach an agreement, though not from today’s meeting. “While we no …
Today in Skopje, hundreds of Albanian law students in North Macedonia staged a large protest, demanding the use of their mother tongue in graduation exams—a right that exists in practice only on paper. With chants such as “Albanian language is our right,” “We speak Albanian,” and “There is no state …
Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, reacted to the protest of Albanian students in North Macedonia, emphasizing that the use of one’s mother tongue is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution and the Law on the Use of Languages. In a post on X, Hoxha underlined …
The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, stated this Monday on Euronews Albania, in an interview with Thimi Samraxhiu, that Albania’s EU accession process has not been blocked by any country and, according to him, the process is continuing. The minister also emphasized that the process is demanding …
Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, gave an exclusive interview to Euronews Albania with moderator Thimi Samarxhiu regarding the country’s EU integration process and its international relations. In the interview, Hoxha also focused on relations with Greece, which, according to him, are currently among the best they …